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GREELEY VS. GRANT. 

_ 9 2.? 

ThegDuty of True Democrats. 



ANeOPEIN-LETTER BY HON. PHILLIP CLAYTON, OP 

GEORGIA. 



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WHA1V- ft-J^FE'LONG DEMOCRAT THINKS— LETTER OP 
GEN.' JOHN A. DIX, OP NEW YORK. 



&TERHTA, Ga., July 22, 1872. 

2W&t<ew£3r&0/ Georgia: 

When tlio Baltlmoro Convention dissolved 
the' Democratic party,, by substituting a now 
platform of principles for the time-honored 
one it was their pride to proclaim and their 
boast to maintain; and when upon this new 
platform thoy placed a candidate with whom 
they hod antagonized more than a quarter of a 
century, it left each individual Democrat to 
choose between the only two candidates in 
the field,. General Grant and Mr. Greeley. 
la ^the exercise of the right which belonged 
to each individual member, and in obedienco 
to the stern necessity their action had im- 

rsedyl gave publicity to tho course, which 
had oft repeated in private circles, I in- 
tended to pursue. In doing so I have aroused 
the indignation of that portion of the press of 
$hls State who- have determined, some from 
choice and some from the irresistible despotism 
of party, to support Mr. Greeley. Their modes 
. or^expressing their disapprobation are various 
.arm amusing— one thinks and so says, " I have 
ffun' the thing in the ground;" another says 
twoP-Clayton has written a letter in favor 
of Grant;, another is merciful on account 
oi^xaj former position and the standing of 
my -family, while another has a statement 
that 1 was influenced to the course I have 
thought proper to pursue from motives of 
JnterestUjfcl mention these, not that I am go- 
£ng to make war; upon the press, but to re- 
«nind them that courtesy, In any discuwlon, 
whether moral, legal or political, Is the dis- 
iftjJnguiBhing characteristic of a gentleman; 
and while, from tho manner in which I have 
jbeeiv *roatodv* am under no obligation to 
theuv to impart the information, if, in the 
future^they will profit by tho instruction, 



I The people of Georgia are now interested 
In but one issuo in tho pending controversy 
for President, and that involves exclusively 
thoir honor. In my opinion they can vote 
for General Graut and maintain it. They 
can not voto for Mr. Greeley without trailing 
it in the dust. 

In ruy former letter I gave only some gen- 
oral reasons for the courso I intended to pur- 
sue, knowing that it was impossible, hav- 
ing regard for the truth of history, to contro- 
vert the reasons for my opposition to Mr. 
Greeley. 

The Baltimore Convention acted more like 
a mob, it they have been correctly reported, 
than like statesmen seeking the public good 
and guarding the public interest. The Wash- 
ington Chroniclk, tho Washington Patriot, 
and the Baltimore Sim (see their issues of 
the 11th and 12th instants) represented in 
their report of tho proceedings of said con- 
vention that the old soug of "John Brown" 
was sung on the occasion, and that when Mr. 
Bayard, of Delaware, attempted to speak in 
favor of Democratic principles he was hissed. 
Such was the birth of this new party and 
new candidate. Other comment is unneces- 
sary, than the inquiry, which addresses itself 
to every voter in Georgia, "(Jan you main- 
tain your honor by voting for such a can- 
didate or sustaining such a coalition?" 
The cry of, "anybody to: beat Grant" 
may sustain you under excitement, but when 
the calm hour of reilection comes, as it will, 
you will be mortified in tho remembrance 
that you suffered your judgment and your 
justice to be influenced by your passions and 
prejudices. Preliminary to investigating the 
life and history of this new-found favorite 
to Southern sympathy, I propose to remind 



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they have been betrayed by the Baltimore 
conventi m and the acknowledge'! mode of 
h i x tl i bo gulled. 

The first; exposition of the. action, of the' 

Baltimore Convention took pi. '.;•.•• at Winning-, 

• C , "•! lii.- r.'Uri'j.l'.uit. (See Wash-' 

Ington Patriot of the IBtA, the Democratic^ 



political organization freely indulges? they 
discover nothing hut a pledge to " maintain? 
themnionoib these .Statesi^mancipation and! 
leu^npjtfflgnjfeu g , ahUWAoppose .any reopen- 
jing-of'thvqu'a^tion'o^uttledlhy'llliQ^hirfceeDth; 
(iV)urteent!f,-'iu: J4ilfeeiitlJi.4ltL3ndnients of. -the 
iOonstitution.r^'aii'cl'v'tlifi'TeCoTdpd fact tliat 
o gan.) Tim twQ principal speaker.-, were';."<we reraemberwith' gra't!itQde> the heroism 



Senator 'I'if>t«!T>, of Nebraska! and Senator 
Stockton, <it New Jersey, represeutatives of 

I :■> winga of tho Obalition. Senator 
Stockton Bald, on that occasion, "There was 
a widi' difference between tlio antecedents 
of the preceding speaker (Senator Tipfcon> 
and liiui-vli". Ho was proud to say of him- 
sell that he bad alwaya been, was now, and 
always would be a Democrat He was as- 
tonished at himself, iinding-he had conn' bore 
to ask these people to vote for such a man as 
Horace Greeley, lie was not surprised at 
his colleague (.Mr. Tipton) for doing so; but 
for himself he could hardly comprehend how 
it came about, lie had been sent by the 
people of New Jersey to tho Baltimore Con- 
vention without instructions. He believed his 
constituents did not want, him to vote for Mr. 
Greeley, and ou the first ballot he was one 
of that small number who had voted 
against him. His people did not want Mr. 
Greeley; so far as they were concerned th3y 
would have elected a Democrat. It was your 
Southern men who did this. You forced 
them upon us and now we shall look to you 

irember to vindicate your wisdom." I 
havegiven tliM extract from Senator Stock- 
ton's speech to show the infatuation of the 
.Southern delegations at Baltimore, as well as 
to fix the responsibility of Greeley's nomina- 
tion where it belongs. Senator Stockton de- 

I in a public speech on Southern soil: 
"It was your Southern men who did this." 
And.yetthero.is not within the broad limits 
"> Georgia! a supporter of Greeley among 
the Democrats who pretends that he has any 
othertfecomoienddtiou than "anybody to beat 
• .rant." It is the excuse of every Southern 

ition, we could not elect a Democrat 
and we were compelled to take Greeley and 
his platform, and yet in Che very opening of 

campaign, on Southern territory, a 
Northern Democratic Senator proclaims: "It 
was. your Southern men who did this— you 
forced them upon \«." What a Spectacle! 
A i;d worse than all, what a humiliation! But 

tiofaiof She lialtimore Convention is a 
pastissuo. The' living issueis, must the people 
Soutbobey their dictation? It is are- 
Ma fact that in this state, so far as I 

been able to examine, there has not ap- 
ditorial in any Democratic 

i recommedding Mr. Greeley u$on his 

•'" the high office to which they have 
nominated him. 
If they turn to tne pa I rei ord of his life, 

made up of vindictive abuse of the 
: n pi >p a and their institutions, and 
ii :iiey look in liis promises for the future 
ll'iy Qnd nothing but his assurance, in ac- 
cepting tbe nomination, that "he was as 
a Itepubllcau as he ever was." if 
! ■ kurn to the platform of principles 
'••" " which they have placed him, besides 

general declaration*, in whioh every 



and.sacrifice^f'the soldiers and-sailors of tha 
Republic, and novact. of ours shall ever de- 
tract from their- justly-earned* -fame- or tho 
full reward of their patriotism." The thou- 
sands of Southern soldiers who sleep in their 
graves made sacred by their efforts to defend 
our rights, are not even honored with a re- 
spectful remembrance. 

I am not drawing upon* your sympathy, 
but am recording what has. beGomo history; 
if it does not arouse your indignation it will, 
at least, excite your astonishment. Contrast- 
ing the life of General Grant with that of 
Mr. Greeley, no one can fail to perceive the 
difference. The one indicates no want of hu- 
manity, the other exhibits no evidence- of 
kindness or affection. If you take the ad- 
ministration of General Grant in its details 
or its totality you will not find a measure re- 
pulsive to Southern sentiment that did not 
meet the^warm approval of Mr. Greeley. 
Even the Kuklux law, which every Southern 
man condemned, challenged the admiration 
of Mr. Greeley to such an extent that he de- 
clared that " on every proper occasion he had 
advocated and justified the Kuklux act." " I 
hold it," he said, "especially desirable for the 
South; and if it does not prove strong enough 
to effect its purpose I hope it will bo made 
stronger and stronger." 

I have sought in vain to find one sentiment 
ever uttered or published by Mr. Greeley In 
which he manifested even a common human- 
ity toward the people of the South. His 
friends say that he went on Mr. Davis' bond, 
and magnify this single virtue to such an ex- 
tent as to claim for him a merit that entitles 
him to be made the Chief Magistrate of this 
great nation. But give him the benefit of all 
they claim, how poorly does it contrast with 
the noble conduct of General Grant in stand- 
ing by and defending that greatest of patriots, 
Genera! Robert E. Lee. In the appendix, 
page 553, of the life of General Lee, by J. E. 
Cooke, the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, in a tribute 
to General Lee, upon the occasion^ of his 
death, remarks, "When I heard he was about 
to be prosecuted in a Virginia court for the 
alleged crime of treason,! wrote to him at 
once, and with all my heart, that if he be- 
lievedlcould bo of any service to him pro- 
ially, I was at his comjpaand.'^ I re- 
ceived a characteristic reply in terms of 
friendship and grateful thanks. ■■> He wrote 
that he did not think the prosecution would 
take place. Hearing, however, some time 
after that the prosecution would commence 
at Richmond, I went at once to that city and 
saw his legal adviser, Hon. William. H. 31c- 
Farland, one of the ablest men of the bar 
of Virginia. Mr. McFarland Showed me a 
copy of a letter from G en e.ral Leo to Gene- 
ral Grant, inclosing an application for a 
pardon which he desired General Grant to 
present to the President, but, telliug-hiurnot 






to present it if *any stops, had been taken for 
his prosecution) as ho was willing to stand 
. tho tost General Grant,a^pnco replied, and 
"" ho showed his reply to wo-.. Ho wroto that 
o j he* had 6e en tho President andt protested 
against any eteps being taken against Gen- 
eral Lee, and informed him that lia con- 
sidered his honor and the honor of tho na- 
tion pledged to him. Tho President became 
satisfied, and no proceedings were* ever 
3 taken. General Grant transmitted to the 
President tho application of General Lee for 
pardon,.hidorsed with his'niost earnest ap- 
provals ISTo pardon was granted." I am 
now contrasting tho hearts of the two candi- 
dates—In their political opinions there is no 
difference — in that period of time which em- 
braces General Grant's administration. 

One other scsap from the records and I' am 
done*' for the present. When General Lee 
reached tho point where a continuance of the 
struggle was madness, he received the follow- 
ing letter from General Grant: 

April 7, 1865* 

General El E. Lee, Commanding (7. 8. A.: 

General* The result of the last week 
must-*convinee yon of the hopelessness- of 
farther resistance on the part of the Army of 
Northern Virginia in this struggle. 1 feel 
that it is so, and regard it as my ditty to shift 
iron* myself the responsibility of any fur- 
ther effusion of bloud by asking" of you the 
surrender of that portion of the Confederate 
.Southern army known as the Army of North- 
ern "Virginia." 
Very respectfully, your obedientservant, 
U. S. Grant, 
Lieutenant General Commanding Armies of 
United States. 

April 7, 1365. 
General: I have received your note of 
this day. Though not entirely of the opin- 
ion yon express of the hopelessness of further 
resistance on the part of the army of North- 
err* Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to 
avoid useless effusion of blood, and there- 
fore, before considering your proposition, ask 
the terms you will offer on condition of its 
surrender. R. E. Lee,' General. 

To Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, com- 
manding army of the United Slates. 
The result of this correspondence was a 
surrender, which is as follows: 

Appomattox Court House, 

April 0, 1865. 
General It. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A. : 
^.In accordance with the substance of my 
letterto you of tho Sth instant, f propose to 
receive the surrender of the Army of North- 
ern. Virginia on the following terms, to wit: 
Polls of all the officers and men to be made 
in duplicate, one copy to be given to an offi- 
cer designated by*me^.the vother to be, ; re- 
tained by such officers as you 1 may designate. 



Tho officers to give their individual parolo 
not to take arms against tho Government of 
the United States until properly exchanged, 
aiuheaeh. company or regimental commander 
tottsignwaklike parole fbctke.nien.of, their 
commands. 

i ThoAarms^ artillery,- audvpublic^property4to 
be parked and* stacked^ and -turned* oveiyio 
the officers appointed by me to receiv©>the'nr.. 
f This will not embrace the side-armsflofi«tho 
officers, nor their private horses or baggage-. 

This done, each officer audcmaiywiiubo 
allowed to return to their horaes^not-tokbe 
disturbed by United States authority soalong 
as they observe their parole and- thetyfcvws*in 
force where they may reside. Very*respect- 
fully, U. S.* Grant^T 

Lieut;, -General. 

Headquarters Army of---Northern 
Virginia, April 9,- 1865. 
Lieutenant General IT. £'. Grant*-. Command- 
ing If. S. A.: 

General: I have received your- letter 1 of 
this date, containing the terms of' surrender 
of the army of Northern Virginia,. as**pro- 
posed by you. As- they are substantially- tho 
same as those expressed in your letter ofr the 
Sth instant, they are accepted.. IwihVprc- 
ceed to designate the proper officers" to carry 
the stipulations into effect. Very- respect- 
fully, your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General. 

Now, when the passions have subsided, and 
"hands are shaking over Ihe bloody chasm," 
the calm and reflecting survivors must admit 
the humanity in every lino of this surrender, 
and Gcneral'Grant will at least have accorded 
to him some kind feeling over this general 
calamity. 

How was it with his present opponent, .but 
then his political friend? Iii the Tribune of 
the 1st of May, on the fourth page, in tho 
fourth column, these were Mr. Greeley's 
terms : 

"But, .nevertheless, we mean to conquer 
them; not merely to defeat, but to conquer; to 
subjugate them; and we shall do this the 
most mercifully, the more speedily we do it. 
But when tho. rebellious traitors are over- 
whelmed in the field and scattered like leaves 
before an angry wind, it must not be to re- 
turn to peaceful and contented homes. They 
must find poverty at their firesides and see 
privation in the anxious eyes of mothers and 
the rags of children." 

What a contrast. The one full of human- 
ity and the milk of human kindness, the 
other an execrable wretch, belching forth 
feelings and sentiments that would have 
disgraced Robespierre, in the zenith of his 
cruelty. Others under the lash of party des- 
potisnrmay feel no dishonor to their victim 
in supporting Mr, Greeley. I can not so see 
it. Every feeling of my heart revolts at tho 
sacrifice, and no consideration- can Influence 
me to make it. P. Clayton. 









MWEBrGF GENERAL JOHN A. DDL 



WOJSTIUMPTOITy July 27, 1872.. 
*DEAn Sm^Tour letter of tho*l3th Instant, 
nsklngimyaid to* procure a speaker for a 
Greeley meeting at Hancock was sent to me 
while I wa3 in New England, and I havo 
been unable until now to acknowledge Its rs- 
qoption,. 

I da not .understand on whafc ground you 
Considered yourself authorized to address 
Rjncha.roquest to me. If you had been fa- 
jfnjharvwith the course *f my political life, 
andequally so with Mr. Greeley's, you could 
«ot hare supposed mo capable of advocating 
this election to -the office of President of the 
Snitod States withomt imputing to me an 
uiter abandonment of all political principle. 

f uun-opposed to Mr. Greeley: 

©- Uocause 1 believe him to be as "unstable 
<n.ge water,*" perpetually floundering (to carry 
ant the Scriptural figure) amid the surges of 
<ipinioni»nd deficient in all the requisites 
Sissentuu to a firm, steady, and consistent ad- 
juilnlstratknxof the Government. 

J9vJ3ecaus9> no has usually been found 
Among the most extreme ulcraists on the 
great questions of political and social duty 
Tidiieh nave boon brought ander public dis- 
cussion for the last quarter of a century. 

C, Becanse ho has been the advocate (and 
Sn«this instance persistently) of that most 
ajniust and unequal commercial system which 
&s destroying our mercantile and shipping in- 
terests, andheaping up enormous accumula- 
tions of wealth in the hands of tho protected 
glasses to the oppression and impoverishment 
Cjall others. 

ift. JBecause Tie Is associated, In relations 
more or less intimate, with some of the chief 
plunderers of the city of New York, justly 
warranting the apnrohonsion that through 
ibis xjompheity or his facile disposition, tho 
samo system of fraud and corruption which 
lias disgraced the municipal government of 
this city may be carried to more Infamous ex- 
tremes in the administration of the Federal 
Government; and. j 

C. Because In the darkest hour of the 
country's peril, when a traitorous combiua- 
tion-cadbeen formed to overthrow the Gov- 
ernment, he oponly counseled the cowarclly 
policy oi non-resistance, and an acquies- 
cence in- the dissolution of the Union, when- 
inror the cotton States should uaako up their 
minds to go. 

The coalition which fcas been formed to 
promote his election io one of tho mast extra- 
ordinary in tho history of parties, in respect 
both.to the discordant elements it embraces 
and tho surrendor of principles it involves. 
• The ClnoinnaXi Convention, called to bring 
I bc&icjlifc Bfignjfr 4njn;>rtRuUoeaaui£A flfcw* 



form, nominated him, greatly jtaihe-aurprise 
of the whole country, knovipa&iin, in re-- 
gard to ono of those measures, to be an im- 
placable opponent— nominated Jilm, too. 
against the wishes and Judgment ofihe chief 
promoters of tho movement. whcMtCcepted 
him, either with an avowed -or an ill-con- 
cealed disgust, which would be far more 
creditable to their feelings if tho act of ac- 
ceptance were uot utterly iu"acoucilabie>.with J 
their principles. 

The Democratic Convention at Baltimore 
Indorsed and commended him to the support 
of their party— not as the exponent of any 
principles they have professed or any meaa-r 
ures they have advocated, but as a known 
and bitter opponent of both — tho maa-who. 
perhaps, of all others, has been the^mosc 
malignant assailant of tho Democracy, im- 
peaching its integrity, traducing ifca motives, 
and vilifying its character. 

The adoption of such a man as tltetf can- 
didate for the Ghief Magistracy of the Union 
is the most conspicuous abandonment of po- 
litical principles known to party contests; 

It remains to bo seen whether the great 
body of the Democratic voters, and the true 
friends of Reform, can bo made parties to 
this unscrupulous coalition between political 
leaders. 

That General Grant has committed" mis- 
takes his most sincere friends admit. But if 
his errors had been four-fold more numerous, 
he would, in my opinion, be a much safer- 
Chief Magistrate than Mr. Greeley. lie has, 
in that capacity, done much for which ho 
deserves the thanks of the country. Above 
all, ho has kopt it at peace, notwithstanding 
the efforts of sensation journals and popu- 
larity-seeking politicians to provoke hostili- 
ties with Spain on the question of Cuba, and 
with Great Britain on the Alabama, claims 
and tho fisheries. , 

If, regardless of these titles to the approval 
of his fellow-citizens, and of his Invaluable 
services during tho late civil war. they should 
set him aside for Mr. Greeley; if the latter, a 
mere erratic politician, untried in any Im- 
portant public trust, should be elovated to 
ttie Chief Magistracy of thc.Unlon— a Union 
which would not now exist if his counsels 
had been followed— and if tho man who, of 
all others, has done the most to preserve it 
should be discarded for a successor so ill 
qualified and bo unscrupulously nominated 
and sustained, the example would bo most 
deplorable in itslniluenceonall high motives 
to political action, and justify tuxi moat pain- 
ful forebodings us to the future* 
| i am respectfully yours, -«Iqiu?A.T)ix. 
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